A Charles County construction worker has claimed a $50,000 top prize in the Maryland Lottery’s Bonus Match 5 game after purchasing his ticket during a regular stop for food in La Plata.
Jerry Baker Jr., who lives in Charles County and works in construction, said he plays the lottery casually, typically buying tickets about once a week. He prefers draw games like Bonus Match 5 and usually lets the terminal generate his numbers through a quick pick. On June 13, he bought his winning ticket at the Wawa located at 5955 Crain Highway in La Plata. When asked why he stops there regularly, Baker offered a straightforward answer: the store has good food.
After the drawing, Baker returned to the same Wawa. He scanned his ticket at the store’s checker, but instead of showing a prize amount, the screen directed him to visit a Lottery office. Curious, he later checked the Maryland Lottery website to compare his numbers with the official results. That is when he realized his quick pick had matched all five of the main numbers drawn in Bonus Match 5.
Baker kept the news to himself for a couple of days before sharing it with family. He first told his parents and later his sister. Everyone was excited by the win, and his sister was inspired enough to buy her own Lottery ticket in hopes of similar good fortune.
Baker claimed the $50,000 prize on June 26 at Maryland Lottery headquarters in Baltimore. He said he plans to use the winnings to help pay bills. The Wawa location where he bought the ticket will receive a $500 retailer bonus, equal to 1 percent of the prize amount.
Bonus Match 5 is a daily draw game in which players select five numbers from 1 to 39. A separate Bonus Match number is drawn, and matching it can increase lower-tier prizes. The top prize of $50,000 is awarded for matching the first five numbers, regardless of the Bonus Match. The game offers multiple ways to win smaller amounts, which contributes to its popularity among casual players across Maryland.
Lottery games like Bonus Match 5 provide a form of entertainment for many residents while also generating revenue that supports state programs, including education. For winners like Baker, the funds often go toward practical needs such as household expenses, reflecting how sudden windfalls can ease financial pressures for working families in Southern Maryland.
Baker’s story follows a pattern seen with many Maryland Lottery winners who treat playing as an occasional activity rather than a regular habit. His decision to let the terminal choose the numbers and his low-key approach to claiming the prize align with the experiences of other local winners who have described similar low-key reactions and responsible use of the money.
The win at a familiar La Plata convenience store also highlights how lottery retailers in Charles County and across the region benefit when customers hit larger prizes. The $500 bonus to the Wawa location adds a small but tangible reward for the business that sold the ticket.
For residents of Charles County and neighboring areas in Southern Maryland, stories like Baker’s offer a reminder that everyday stops can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes. While the odds of winning the top prize remain long, the game continues to attract players who enjoy the possibility of a meaningful payout.
Baker’s $50,000 win will now go toward paying bills, providing direct relief for a local construction worker and his family. The Maryland Lottery continues to report winners from across the state, with many prizes claimed by residents who play occasionally at neighborhood retailers.
